The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is currently grappling with internal turmoil, marked by a series of contentious events involving key figures within the party. These include Kalyan Banerjee's recent resignation as the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha, a public spat between Banerjee and fellow TMC MP Mahua Moitra, Moitra's controversial "pig" jibe directed at Banerjee, and reported intervention from TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee to address the escalating conflict.

Kalyan Banerjee's Resignation

Kalyan Banerjee, a senior TMC MP and a four-time member of Parliament, resigned from his position as the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha. Banerjee attributed his resignation to being unfairly blamed for a lack of coordination among TMC MPs, with some members reportedly exhibiting poor attendance in Parliament. He expressed feeling humiliated that the party was not holding those responsible for indiscipline and poor attendance accountable, but instead making him the scapegoat. Banerjee also hinted at the possibility of quitting politics altogether, expressing disillusionment with the party's internal affairs. However, he later stated that Abhishek Banerjee, TMC national general secretary, had requested him to continue as chief whip for a few more days.

Mahua Moitra's "Pig" Jibe

The resignation followed a public dispute with Mahua Moitra, the Krishnanagar MP, with Banerjee criticizing Moitra's comments made during a podcast. Moitra reportedly referred to Kalyan Banerjee as a "pig" in the podcast, which further fueled the conflict. Banerjee accused Moitra of using "dehumanizing language" and compared her comments to "outright abuse". He also claimed that Moitra was using personal attacks to deflect from questions regarding her performance as an MP.

Prior to this, Moitra had been booked over an alleged "derogatory" social media remark about the National Commission for Women (NCW) chief. The controversy arose when the NCW chief visited Hathras in Uttar Pradesh, and Moitra responded to a query about why the NCW chief could not carry her own umbrella with a remark deemed offensive.

Mamata Banerjee's Intervention

Mamata Banerjee, the TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister, reportedly intervened to address the escalating conflict within the party. Banerjee held a virtual meeting with TMC MPs from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, where she expressed her displeasure over the poor coordination in the party's parliamentary wing.

Earlier, reports suggested that Mamata Banerjee had issued a stern warning to Mahua Moitra following a verbal altercation with Kalyan Banerjee. The warning was reportedly conveyed through a senior Rajya Sabha MP, cautioning Moitra against further disruptive behavior and threatening disciplinary action, including potential suspension, if she failed to comply. The conflict between Moitra and Banerjee reportedly stemmed from tensions concerning speaking time allocation in the Lok Sabha, with Moitra feeling marginalized by Banerjee, who manages floor time for several party MPs.

Other Issues

Mahua Moitra has faced a series of controversies, including expulsion from the Lok Sabha in December 2023 following a "cash-for-query" scandal. Allegations surfaced that Moitra accepted cash and gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to ask questions targeting the Adani group in the Lok Sabha. She was also accused of sharing her parliamentary login credentials with Hiranandani. The CBI has submitted a report to Lokpal regarding the cash-for-query controversy, and the Lokpal will decide the future course of action. Moitra, however, won from Krishnanagar again in the 2024 general election.

These recent events highlight the internal challenges and conflicts within the TMC. The public spats between senior leaders, allegations of misconduct, and concerns over coordination and discipline have created a sense of turmoil within the party. It remains to be seen how Mamata Banerjee and the TMC leadership will address these issues and steer the party forward in the coming days.